Zack Sabre Jr Wins New Japan Cup; Challenges Kazuchika Okada

Zack Sabre Jr is the New Japan Cup Tournament Champion.

For the first time ever, a British wrestler has won the New Japan Cup which was Zack Sabre Jr when he defeated two-time cup winner Hiroshi Tanahashi in the finals. On his way to the finals, Sabre defeated Tetsuya Naito, Kota Ibushi, and Sanada. Naito and Ibushi are also past New Japan Cup winners.

The winner of the cup each year gets to pick a champion to challenge and after the match Sabre challenged IWGP Heavyweight Champion Kazuchika Okada.  Okada has been challenged by the last two cup winners including losing his championship to Naito in 2016. 

The following is an excerpt from the Fightful live coverage by David Tees:

 

Sabre Jr drops Tanahashi with a leg sweep before attempting a penalty kick, Tanahashi blocks the kick and he goes for a dragon screw leg whip. Sabre Jr counters that into a roll up on Tanahashi for a near fall, Sabre Jr and Tanahashi get into another striking exchange. Sabre Jr would then catch Tanahashi with a roll up followed by a penalty kick for another near fall, Sabre Jr drops for a knee bar and Tanahashi counters with a dragon suplex attempt. Sabre Jr gets free and Tanahashi nails him with a sling blade followed by a dragon suplex for a few near falls, Tanahashi goes for the High Fly Flow and he nails it. Tanahashi goes back up to the top rope and he misses a second High Fly Flow attempt, Tanahashi goes for a roll up and Sabre Jr counters with Napalm Death and Tanahashi taps out.

Winner: Zack Sabre Jr.

After the match, Zack Sabre Jr. says that he is challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Title. Okada makes his way to the ring with Gedo by his side, Sabre Jr. and Okada go face to face. 

Sabre was only the second wrestler not from Japan to win the cup, the other being NXT trainer Matt Bloom. 

Fightful Wrestling had live coverage of the entire New Japan Cup tournament which can be found on the wrestling results page.